Hands On Mathmatics
 Hands on Mathematics Numbers from 1-10 |
 Hands on Mathematics Arithmetic from 1-10 |
Learning numbers is typically done early in a child's life and many parents automatically include counting as we teach our young children their first numbers. Without realizing it, we are conditioning the child to count with the left side of their brain, where things are learned in a linear fashion. When children learn numbers through counting, they often must count to figure out math in later years. By equipping our children with the ability to do math with the right side of their brain, we give them the tools to think dimensionally instead, allowing math facts to be more easily recalled because they were learned dimensionally, not simply counted.
Gisela Hausmann, author of the unique book obvious LETTERS: The Associative Alphabet Every Child Will Remember (recently republished on CD-ROM), has published an equally exceptional method to teach numbers and arithmetic. Hands on Mathematics Numbers and Arithmetic are two CD-ROM books which are unusual in that they not only encourage the association of the number symbol with physical items, but they discourage counting. By following Ms. Hausmann's method your child will quickly grasp the concept of what a number represents without the associated counting. When it is time for adding, they will be able to grasp the math facts through visual imagery and intuitively understand the arithmetic without the necessity of counting.
The programs have an unfamiliar interface and it took me a few moments to navigate my way around the books, but once I got accustomed to the different look and feel of the program it was easy to find and print exactly what I needed.
Hands On Mathematics works with visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, allowing the highest retention rate by using methods that work for all three learning types. HoM comes in two different programs. The first is simply teaching numbers with no arithmetic involved and is appropriate for bright 3 year olds through Kindergarten age. The second CD teaches addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division concepts using the same kinesthetic methods that the Numbers CD uses and should follow the use of HoM Numbers when the child has mastered the first program. The programs would be an excellent preparation for Math-U-See, which uses similar reasoning and also encourages learning math without counting.
You can find Hands on Mathematics Numbers from 1-10 and Hands on Mathematics Arithmetic from 1-10 at amazon.com.